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Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Plea deal takes murder off the table, Instead, under a plea agreement, Courtney pleaded no contest to four counts of causing wildland fires for which he’d also been charged. One of those counts includes an admission of special allegations for a firefighter suffering great bodily injury and another of causing great bodily injury to more than one person.-------News Story:Tulare man pleads no contest to setting 2006 arson that killed firefighter, pilot

The man accused of setting a series of 2006 fires in Mountain Home State Park during which a firefighter and pilot were killed in a plane crash pleaded no contest today to setting those fires after prosecutors dropped murder charges.

Patrick Courtney, 31, of Tulare would have faced life in prison if convicted on the two counts of second-degree murder in the deaths of CAL FIRE Battalion Chief Rob Stone of Exeter and George “Sandy” Willett of Hanford, a contract pilot for CAL FIRE.

Instead, under a plea agreement, Courtney pleaded no contest to four counts of causing wildland fires for which he’d also been charged. One of those counts includes an admission of special allegations for a firefighter suffering great bodily injury and another of causing great bodily injury to more than one person.

The morning of Sept. 6, Stone and Willett were aboard a Air Attack 410, a OV-10A turboprop plane, from which Stone was directing fire crews on the ground in mopping up one of the fires when the plane crashed in the canyon about 22 miles northeast of Porterville.

Tim Ward, a supervising attorney with the Tulare Count District Attorney's Office, said a plea agreement was reached with the blessing of CAL FIRE and Forest Service officials as well as the families of the two men killed.

Sonora, CA -- The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the annual agreement with CAL Fire for year round protection. The agreement is to not exceed $2.29 million for the current fiscal period.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED A * SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR... WEST CENTRAL BUTTE COUNTY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA... NORTHEASTERN GLENN COUNTY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA... SOUTH CENTRAL TEHAMA COUNTY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA... * UNTIL 600 PM PST * AT 528 PM PST... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.THIS STORM WAS LOCATED NEAR ORDBEND...OR ABOUT 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF ORLAND...AND MOVING NORTH AT 30 MPH. THIS STORM MAY CONTAIN A TORNADO AND POSSIBLY UP TO DIME SIZE HAIL. * THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WILL BE NEAR... NORD AND CHICO BY 545 PM PST... 7 MILES EAST OF VINA BY 600 PM PST...

03/02/2009 - DWR Announces Snow Survey ResultsThe Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) third snow survey of the winter season indicates snow water content is 80 percent of normal for the date, statewide. Last year at this time, snowpack was 114 percent of normal, but the driest spring on record followed, resulting in a second consecutive dry water year. Daily electronic readings may be accessed at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snowsurvey_sno/DLYSWEQ (03/02/2009).

Provided by the California Cooperative Snow Surveys:News for Immediate Release - DWR Announces Snow Survey ResultsMarch 2, 2009Contacts:Elissa Lynn, Senior Meteorologist (916) 574-2221Frank Gehrke, Snow Surveys Office (916) 952-4044Ted Thomas, Information Officer (916) 653-9712Amy Norris, Information Officer (916) 654-3755SACRAMENTO – The Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) third snow survey of the winter seasonindicates snow water content is 80 percent of normal for the date, statewide.“Although recent storms have added to the snowpack, California remains in a serious drought,” saidDWR Director Lester Snow. “This year’s precipitation levels are still below average. On the heels of two critically dry years it is unlikely we will make up the deficit and be able to refill our reservoirs before winter’s end. It’s very important that Californians continue to save water at home and in their businesses.”Manual survey results taken today at four locations near Lake Tahoe were combined with electronic readings and indicate a statewide snowpack water content of 80 percent (84 percent in the Northern Sierra, 77 percent in the Central Sierra, and 83 percent in the Southern Sierra.) Last year at this time, snowpack was 114 percent of normal, but the driest spring on record followed, resulting in a second consecutive dry water year.Daily electronic readings may be accessed at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgiprogs/snowsurvey_sno/DLYSWEQ.

On February 27, 2009, Governor Schwarzenegger declared a drought state of emergency, directing DWR and other state agencies to provide assistance to people and communities impacted by the drought.Local water agencies are updating Urban Water Management Plans and DWR is facilitating what water transfers may be available through its Drought Water Bank program. Many providers have already enacted mandatory or voluntary water rationing and it is likely more agencies will require some form of rationing if dry conditions persist.Storage in California’s major reservoirs is low. Lake Oroville, the principal storage reservoir for the State Water Project (SWP), is at 39 percent of capacity, and 55 percent of average storage for this time of year.Continuing dry conditions and regulatory agency restrictions on Delta water exports are limiting water deliveries to farms and urban areas. A forthcoming Biological Opinion from the National Marine Fisheries Service to protect salmon and steelhead may further reduce pumping capability.DWR’s early estimate is that it will only be able to deliver 15 percent of requested State Water Project water this year to the Bay Area, San Joaquin Valley, Central Coast and Southern California.Governor Schwarzenegger has outlined steps to safeguard the state’s water supply through acomprehensive plan that includes water conservation, more surface and groundwater storage, newinvestments in the state’s aging water infrastructure, and improved water conveyance to protect the environment and provide a reliable water supply. Today’s drought and regulatory restrictions underscore the need to take action to safeguard tomorrow’s water supply.Here are results from today’s manual survey at Phillips Station and other sites near Lake Tahoe:Location Elevation - Snow Depth - Water Content - % of Long Term Average

It is with great sadness that the San Bernardino Fire Department announces the passing of Fire Captain Creighton (Creig) Nece. Creig was a 19 year veteran of the fire department and died during the morning hours on 3/2/09 while in the hospital recovering from back injuries sustained in an off-road vehicle accident last week.

Creig leaves behind his wife and two adult children. He was so very well respected within the fire service community, but more importantly he was loved and respected as a great man with tremendous integrity and character by all who knew him

Memorial services for Captain Nece are as follows:

A "Viewing Ceremony" will be held at Bobbitt Memorial Chapel on March 9th, 2009 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. - located at 1299 E. Highland Ave, San Bernardino, CA 92404

Memorial Services will be held at "The Packing House" on Tuesday, March 10th, 2009 at 11:00 AM - located at 27165 San Bernardino, Ave Redlands, CA. 92404. Immediately following there will be a procession to Monticeto Memorial Park, located at 24145 Barton Rd. Loma Linda, CA. 92354

Please continue to check back for further updates and you can also find the updated information at www.westcoast911.com

A San Bernardino City Fire Department captain died suddenly Monday while hospitalized for injuries suffered in an off-road vehicle accident less than a week earlier, his colleagues said.

Creighton Nece, 53, of Oak Hills, fractured his back Feb. 24 when he was thrown from his quad in Glamis while off-duty.

He was flown to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, where friends reported that he seemed to be improving as recently as Sunday. "It was completely unexpected," said Battalion Chief Eric Esquivel. "The guys are feeling pretty depressed. He was a genuinely nice guy."

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Firefighters were told that Nece would be in a brace for about five weeks and didn't know of any conditions that would have led to his death, Esquivel said.

Nece was a 19-year department veteran and previously had worked for the U.S. Forest Service.

He is survived by his wife, Cathy, and two children, Brianna, 20, and Zachary, 18. Zachary was to wed in Las Vegas this weekend, Roset said.Funeral arrangements are pending.

A San Bernardino City Fire captain died unexpectedly Monday about a week after an off-duty off-road vehicle accident.

Creighton Nece, 53, was injured Feb. 24 when he was thrown from his quad in Glamis, fire Battalion Chief Eric Esquivel said. He was airlifted to Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, where he died. Officials said he appeared to be recovering from a back injury suffered in that accident.

"It was completely unexpected," Esquivel said. "The guys are feeling pretty depressed. He was a genuinely nice guy."

Colleagues were told that Nece would be in a brace for roughly five weeks, and were unaware of any conditions that would have led to his death, Esquivel said. An autopsy will determine the cause of death.

Nece was a 19-year department veteran and had worked for the U.S. Forest Service. He is survived by his wife and two adult children.

Summary

On February 11, 2009, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) in Boise, Idaho, received a request for assistance from Australia, in the wake of unprecedented fire activity in the southeastern part of Australia. Wildfires in Australia have claimed at least 200 lives since February 7.

On February 13, the United States sent 60 wildfire specialists to Australia to meet this request.

The American specialists that were deployed include wildland fire personnel with expertise operations, planning and logistics, two thirteen-person interagency Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) teams specializing in stabilizing and rehabilitating burned areas, and one 20-person suppression firefighting crew.

The specialists, all from federal agencies, came from throughout the United States. Their length of deployment will be up to 35 days.

"We're grateful for the opportunity to assist Australia during a difficult wildfire situation," said Lyle Carlile, the fire director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs at NIFC. Carlile chairs an interagency group at NIFC with the responsibility of coordinating national wildfire response.

"Since 2000, Australia has sent wildfire specialists several times to help the U.S. in some of our worst fire seasons. We are pleased that we can reciprocate," he added.

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Interagency BAER-Emergency Stabilization & Rehabilitation Teams

Burned ∙ Area ∙ Emergency ∙ Response ∙ (BAER)

Australia Support 2009

MISSION

The two BAER-Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation teams are comprised of the following federal US Department of Interior agencies: Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (F&WS), National Park Service (NPS); and the US Department of Agriculture agency: Forest Service (USFS). Each team is made up of a variety of specialists such as soil scientists, hydrologists, geologists, biologists, geographic information system specialists, archeologist, botanist, silviculturist, research engineer, and civil engineer. The two BAER teams are very experienced specialists that are highly effective in conducting rapid assessments and analyses.

The emergency stabilization-rehabilitation teams are working with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE), Country Fire Authority (CFA), and Parks Victoria (PV) to supplement their agency field officers in accessing the burned area assessments on public and private lands.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The objective for the United States (US) Interagency BAER-Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation teams is to support and supplement Victoria State agencies in their analysis of the post-fire effects from as many fire areas as our deployment timeframe permits.

Our specific objectives are to:

· Share a methodology and process for assessing post-fire impacts and identifying treatment objectives by sharing tools such as satellite imagery, erosion models, and monitoring methodologies

· Identify site specific treatment objectives and potential treatments for public and private lands

· Learn from our Australian counterparts about the tools and resources they use to respond to post-fire emergencies

· Incorporate our Australian counterparts and team members from the States of Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory

PROCESS

Review several Public Land Rehabilitation Plans and the Code of Practice to understand the framework for post fire rehabilitation efforts in Australia

Work with the IMT, DSE, CFA, State Government, Parks Victoria, and local landowners to conduct field assessments

Some of the tools we use to prioritize our field review include obtaining satellite landsat imagery that compares pre-fire to post-fire vegetative conditions resulting in soil burn severity maps that locate areas of potential impacts.

Basic Information

Incident Type

Wildland Fire

Cause

Lightning/under Investigation

Date of Origin

Saturday February 07th, 2009 aprox 12:00 AM

Location

Victoria State - Australia

Incident Commander

Victoria State Dse

Current Situation

Size

748,417 acres

Significant Events

MONDAY 2 MARCH 2009: is a day of Total Fire Ban across Victoria. The weather forecast for Monday night and into Tuesday is for very strong north to north westerly winds with temperatures expected to reach the mid to high 30’s, followed by a south-westerly wind change later on Tuesday afternoon bringing possible lightning storms. STATEWIDE FIRE SITUATION SUMMARY: Information last updated:2/03/2009 9:07:11 AM This season there have been 623 fires attended by the Department, 130 of these are yet to be declared safe. FIRE STATUS - NUMBER: GOING: 4 CONTAINED: 7 CONTROLLED: 99 SAFE: 460 SAFE - NOT FOUND: 24 SAFE - FALSE ALARM: 9 NOT FOUND: 20 UNKNOWN: 0 FIRE STATUS DEFINITIONS: * GOING: A Going fire is spreading on an external edge, in whole or in part. * CONTAINED: A Contained fire is not spreading beyond the perimeter or an external edge but requires continuous suppression action to bring about a "Controlled" situation. * CONTROLLED: A Controlled fire requires routine patrol including occasional mopping up work.

Outlook

Planned Actions

GOING FIRES: KILMORE EAST- MURRINDINDI COMPLEX SOUTH: Awareness message at 5.00 am Monday 2 March 2009: Residents in the Yarra Valley including communities in the vicinity of Toolangi, Castella, Fernshaw, Healesville, Don Valley, Mount Toolebewong, Badger Creek, Woori Yallock, Seville, Wandin, Coldstream, Yarra Glen, Yeringberg, Gruyere, Dixons Creek, Steels Creek and Chum Creek need to be aware that fire activity continues behind control lines in the area. No properties in the Yarra Valley are under threat at this time. Residents in the Warburton Valley including communities in the vicinity of Launching Place, Yarra Junction, Wesburn, Millgrove, Warburton, Warburton East, McMahons Creek, Reefton, Gladysdale, Hoddles Creek, Yellingbo and Big Pats Creek need to be aware that fire activity continues behind control lines in the area. No properties in the Warburton Valley are under threat at this time. DSE and CFA are reminding communities in the areas surrounding the fires to activate their bushfire survival plans as another day of severe weather moves into Victoria tomorrow. If you choose to leave, leave early, well before a fire is in your area. Noojee-Powelltown Road is partially closed at Tarango Road. The Recovery Centre at Yarra Glen Memorial Hall will be open today. Community Meetings: Kinglake - Municipal Office - 12:00pm and 4:00pm daily Kinglake West - Kinglake West Fire Station - 2:00pm daily Whittlesea – Whittlesea Relief Centre - 7.00pm Monday 2 March Warburton – Mechanics Hall – 6.00pm Monday 2 & Wednesday 4 March Healesville – Queens Park – 6.00pm Monday 2 & Wednesday 4 March. KILMORE EAST-MURRINDINDI COMPLEX NORTH: Awareness Message at 12.00am Monday 2 March 2009: The Kilmore East – Murrindindi Complex North fire is still going and is currently about 165,000 ha in size. Backburning work has been carried out overnight in the Dingo Track area North of Torbreck Station and will continue today. Residents in the Eildon to Mansfield area may experience smoke from this backburning. Significant smoke and some flame may be visible from the Eildon, Goughs Bay, Jamieson and Mansfield areas. The priority is to contain breaches along the north eastern edge of the fire North of Torbreck Station in the Big River area west of Burnt Bridge, ahead of gale force winds and higher temperatures that are forecast for Tuesday. The weather forecast for today includes northeast to southeast winds up to 25 kilometres per hour later turning northeast to northwesterly around midday. Wind speed will increase later in the afternoon. Tuesday’s forecast is for very strong winds from the north to northwest, temperatures in the mid to high 30s and then a strong south-westerly wind change later in the afternoon. Isolated lightning storms are forecast for the afternoon and evening. The wind change and its strength may lead to serious fire danger for communities along the north-eastern side of this fire, including: Jamieson to Woods Point areas, Howqua / Macs Cove and Goughs Bay. These communities are not presently under any direct threat. However, residents living in isolated areas with very limited road access should prepare for this potential threat to arrive from early Tuesday morning. Residents need to take serious note of Tuesday’s conditions, prepare bushfire plans early Monday and be prepared to activate their plans on Tuesday, if necessary. Community Meetings will be held at: Eildon - Eildon Community Centre (Centre Avenue, Eildon) – 3pm Monday 2 March Alexandra - Alexandra Shire Hall (Grant Street, Alexandra) – 5pm Monday 2 March Mansfield - Mansfield Shire Council Chambers (33 Highett Street, Mansfield) 6pm Monday 2 March. BUNYIP RIDGE FIRE: Awareness Message at 4.00pm Sunday 1 March 2009: The Bunyip Ridge fire is burning in the Bunyip State Park and State Forest areas between Gembrook, Powelltown, Neerim Junction and Tonimbuk and is estimated to be approximately 26,200 hectares in size with a perimeter of approximately 167 kms. It is burning within control lines. Crews from DSE, CFA, Tasmania and NSW have been blacking out edges and hotspots. This fire is not currently posing a threat to communities. WILSONS PROMONTORY NATIONAL PARK-CATHEDRAL RANGE: Awareness message at 9.00 am on Sunday 1 March 2009: The Wilsons Prom Cathedral fire is now estimated to be 24 800ha, and remains one kilometre from the Tidal River settlement and 6 km south of the Yanakie entrance station. There is no immediate threat to the Yanakie settlement. Today crews have been deployed to the Yanakie Isthmus as south-west winds could cause flare-ups as the fire begins to burn close to volatile vegetation in Telegraph Swamp, adjacent to Corner Inlet. Wilsons Promontory remains closed to visitors. MUSKVALE HOGANS RD FIRE: Awareness message at 5.00pm on Sunday 1 March 2009: The Muskvale Hogan’s Rd fire is currently under control and is being regularly patrolled. Mild conditions have allowed fire fighters to strengthen control lines. Blacking out to 60 metres and beyond has continued today with crews from the DSE and ACT Emergency Services Authority Task Force. Fresh crews from the ACT arrive tonight to continue the mop up in preparation for the extreme fire danger expected on Tuesday. Community meetings for Monday 2 March: Trentham - Mechanics Institute, 66 High St Trentham 5pm Daylesford - ARC, Smith St 7pm.

Remarks

The Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) manages fire on Victoria's 7.6 million hectares of public land, or roughly one third of the State. This includes reducing the risk of fire, containing outbreaks and managing environmental effects. Fire Suppression Victoria’s experience with wildfire over the last 150 years has seen the development of firefighting methods in its State’s parks and forests that are considered to be some of the most advanced and effective of their kind in the world. Following its detection, wildfire suppression on public land includes all activities that are connected with extinguishing a wildfire and making it safe. The Department of Sustainability and Environment's (DSE) Code of Practice for Fire Management on Public Land Revision No 1 (2006), states that the response to all wildfires on or threatening public land must be planned and conducted according to the following principles: * wildfires to be brought under control; * control of wildfires to be given priority over all other Departmental activities; * upon detection of a wildfire, control action to be safe, fast, determined and thorough, with the primary objective of controlling the fire in the shortest possible time with due regard given to management cost objectives, environmental values and effectiveness; * fire suppression will include the provision of accurate and timely information to local communities; * where appropriate, local knowledge will be actively sought to inform incident control decisions. Fire suppression must be carried out in accordance with an Incident Action Plan, prepared following consideration of: * firefighter safety; * current and predicted fire behaviour; * assets and values at risk from the wildfire or suppression activities; * management objectives for the area; * esources available locally and through broader emergency arrangements; * suppression methods most appropriate to the area; * known local community concerns and interests; * cost effectiveness; * likelihood of success of alternative. suppression methods. Highly trained planners and firefighters, the use of the latest technology and continuous updating of equipment, techniques and methods maintain this effectiveness.

The mother of a firefighter killed last year in a California helicopter crash has filed a wrongful death suit against two Oregon companies.

Verna Wilson's 30-year-old son Shawn Blazer was killed Aug. 5 when the helicopter he was riding in crashed moments after takeoff as Blazer and others were fighting a fire in the Trinity National Forest in northern California.

Columbia and Carson Helicopters have Oregon offices. Others named in the suit include Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. the manufacturer of the helicopter that crashed United Technologies Corp. and General Electric.

The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the crash.

"We are not commenting at this time, said Tonya Van Walleghem an attorney for Columbia Helicopters.

Blazer's attorneys Arthur Johnson and Douglas Schaller of Eugene also represent the two men who survived the crash, Michael Brown and Jonathan Frohreich. But neither have filed a suit, yet.

Last month, the families of two firefighters killed in the fiery helicopter crash -- Matthew Hammer, 23, of Grants Pass and Bryan Rich, 29, of Medford -- filed wrongful death, negligence and product liability lawsuits against the same defendants.

The suits seek $10 million for each victim, plus funeral costs.

The Aug. 5 crash is considered the deadliest air tragedy of working firefighters in U.S. history.

Thirteen Marine Corps personnel have been disciplined for errors that led adisabled Marine Corps jet fighter to crash in the University City area lastDecember.

WASHINGTON -- Thirteen Marine Corps personnel have been disciplined for errors that led a disabled Marine Corps jet fighter to crash in a San Diego neighborhood last December.

The accident killed four members of one family.

Service officials told members of Congress on Tuesday that four Marine Corps officers at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar near San Diego have been relieved of duty for directing the F/A-18D Hornet to fly over the residential area.

The jet was having engine problems. Officials said the pilot should have been told to fly over San Diego Bay and land at another base that sits on the tip of a peninsula.

Tea Fire Ten in Santa Barbara County court this morning, facing non criminal misdemeanor Trespass and Illegal Camp fire charges.The ten young adults originally accused of starting the Tea Fire are being arraigned in a Santa Barbara County court this morning.The group of college students who built a campfire in November were suspected of accidentally causing the Tea Fire.In February the district attorney decided there was not enough evidence "... beyond a reasonable doubt," to charge them.The ten still face misdemeanor charges of trespassing and using a campfire without permission.The Tea Fire destroyed more than 200 homes in the Santa Barbara area.

One by one, the group dubbed the "Tea Fire Ten" faced Judge Loberg Monday morning. Lamonte, Reid, and Maese asked for public defenders, while the other defendants let their attorneys do the talking.The attorneys for the defendant did not want to talk on camera. The defendants and friends of the defendants had no comment as well.Deputy District Attorney Elizabeth O'Brien released this statement:"This is a misdemeanor trespass and illegal campfire case. The District Attorney's office already made the decision that the evidence was insufficient to file criminal charges in regard to the Tea Fire. Obviously this case is going to get attention because of its association with the Tea Fire investigation."O'Brien says if convicted on both charges, the defendants could face a maximum of a year in jail. However she adds, in this case, that sentence is highly unlikely.

Description: THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED AN * URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR HEAVY RAIN IN... YOLO...SACRAMENTO...YUBA...PLACER...SUTTER...SOLANO...BUTTE... GLENN...COLUSA COUNTIES IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA... * UNTIL 300 PM PST * AT 904 AM PST A LINE OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN...WITH EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS... IS EXTENDING FROM THE CENTRAL SACRAMENTO VALLEY BACK TO THE DELTA REGION. THIS BAND OF SHOWERS IS SLOWLY MOVING TO THE EAST NORTHEAST OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS... INTO THE SACRAMENTO AREA AND INTO THE FOOTHILLS. EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM THIS HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS... AND PONDING OF WATER ON COUNTRY ROADS AND FARMLAND AS WELL AS IN URBAN AREAS...HIGHWAYS...STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER POOR DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

Editors note: This is where the local Government EOC always gets it wrong, getting cheap on the bags...Where are the citizens supposed to get burlap sacks at eight o'clock at night, While water is coming in the door?

There should be a pallet or two of plastic rice sacks or manila burlap sacks at every city corporation yard way ahead of time.Or out back behind a firehouse.Just think this person that made this call is probably getting paid six figures and saved a couple hundred dollars with this bone head thinking process..Now if some fire Captain makes a few Nextel calls I bet some sacks could be found....Maybe set out some shovels, get some Probies or Boy Scouts to start filling some?

San Francisco Fire-Medic Christopher Posey who was nearly killed a month ago while operating at a arson caused structure fire has improved enough to be released from the hospital.

Christopher Posey a firefighter-paramedic a 11 year veteran with SFFD, was released Friday from San Francisco General's ICU and is "resting comfortably" with his wife and 3 kids at home. He still has significant inhalation injuries including both internal and skin burns.

SFFD Firefighter Posey, was injured when the roof of the unoccupied house fell in. Five other firefighters were also injured after the home's roof collapsed and sent hot gas and smoke down a hallway toward them. All five were also treated and released. Posey was the most seriously hurt in that arson fire.

Tom O'Connor, treasurer of the local firefighters' union, said that Posey was recovering at his San Jose home. "He's doing much better," O'Connor said. "He's off the respirator, breathing on his own, and he's starting to walk around." "He still has a long way to ago with the burns, but compared to where he was two weeks ago, it's much better," O'Connor said.

$75,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for starting the fire.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS EXTENDED THE * FLASH FLOOD WARNING FOR DEBRIS FLOWS FOR... NORTHEASTERN BUTTE COUNTY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA... THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...PULGA...BRUSH CREEK RS... WESTERN PLUMAS COUNTY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA... THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...QUINCY...CHESTER... EAST CENTRAL TEHAMA COUNTY IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA... * UNTIL 945 PM PST * AT 324 PM PST... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DOPPLER RADAR CONTINUES TO INDICATE MODERATE TO OCCASIONALLY HEAVY RAIN OVER THE BURN AREAS... WHICH MAY TRIGGER DEBRIS FLOW OVER THE WARNED AREA THROUGH THIS EVENING. * LOCATIONS IN THE WARNING INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO TWAIN... SENECA... PAXTON... MOCCASIN... MILL CREEK... LAKE ALMANOR... CARIBOU... BUTTE MEADOWS...BELDEN AND ALMANOR DEBRIS FLOWS ARE POSSIBLE IN THE VICINITY OF THESE BURN SCARS... INCLUDING THE BUTTE LIGHTNING COMPLEX ADJACENT TO HIGHWAY 70 NORTHEAST OF LAKE OROVILLE AND THE HUMBOLDT FIRES. THE DEBRIS FLOWS CAN IMPACT TRAVEL ALONG AREA ROADWAYS...ESPECIALLY ALONG HIGHWAY 70...THE NORTH FORK FEATHER RIVER CANYON...AND THE MIDDLE FORK FEATHER RIVER CANYON. HIGHWAYS 32 AND 89 MAY ALSO BE IMPACTED BY DEBRIS FLOWS. DEBRIS FLOWS... INCLUDING MUD AND ROCK SLIDES ARE EXPECTED WITH THIS HEAVIER RAINFALL. DEBRIS FLOWS CAN POTENTIALLY TRAP AND KILL PEOPLE CAUGHT IN THEIR PATHS.

Area: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SACRAMENTO CA

Affected Counties or parts of: Plumas, Butte, Tehama

Sent: 2009-03-02T18:13:23-08:00------------------------------------------------THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN SACRAMENTO HAS ISSUED AN * URBAN AND SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR... STANISLAUS COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...SACRAMENTO COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA... YUBA COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA... NEVADA COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...PLACER COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...TUOLUMNE COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...EL DORADO COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA...CALAVERAS COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA... AMADOR COUNTY IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA... * UNTIL 615 PM PST * AT 1220 PM PST... DOPPLER RADAR INDICATED A LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS MOVING THROUGH THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE SACRAMENTO VALLEY AND ACROSS THE NORTHERN SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. THE LINE WAS LOCATED FROM NEAR GRASS VALLEY... SOUTHWARD TO AUBURN... TO EAST OF CITRUS HEIGHTS AND ELK GROVE...TO GALT TO LODI. THE LINE WILL BE MOVING EAST AT ABOUT 15 TO 20 MPH THROUGH THE MOTHERLODE NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80... AND ACROSS EASTERN SACRAMENTO COUNTY THROUGH 1 TO 2 PM. HEAVY RAIN MAY CAUSE PONDING OF WATER ON INTERSTATE 80... HIGHWAY 50... AND HIGHWAY 16 IN EASTERN SACRAMENTO COUNTY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. EXCESSIVE RUNOFF FROM HEAVY RAINFALL WILL CAUSE ELEVATED LEVELS ON SMALL CREEKS AND STREAMS... AND PONDING OF WATER IN URBAN AREAS... HIGHWAYS... STREETS AND UNDERPASSES AS WELL AS OTHER POOR DRAINAGE AREAS AND LOW LYING SPOTS.

Instruction:IN HILLY TERRAIN THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF LOW WATER CROSSINGS WHICH ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS IN HEAVY RAIN. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL ACROSS FLOODED ROADS. FIND ALTERNATE ROUTES. IT TAKES ONLY A FEW INCHES OF SWIFTLY FLOWING WATER TO CARRY VEHICLES AWAY.

Update 03/03/2009 0900 : All roads are open.Update 03/03/2009 0700 AM: Fire is holding at 77 acres with 80% containment. A day assignment consisting of six hand crews and three Type 3 engines (total of 102 firefighters) are assigned to the incident for containment line improvement and mop-up/patrol.Problems: Road closures at Carrancho Road and Vuelte Grande until further notice.Update 20300 - Fire is 77 acres and 50% contained. Firefighters will remain at the scene throughout the night and tomorrow.Full containment is expected by 06:00 AM 03/03/2009, Full control expected by 6:00 PM on 03/03/2009.Update 1800 - Fire is approximately 100 acres and is being mapped for more accurate acreage. Fire personnel will remain on scene throughout the night and tomorrow to contain and control the fire. No evacuations, no structure threats and no injuries reported.Update: 1630 - 70 Acres 0% Containment.Update: 1530 - Wildland fire is now approximately 50+ acres; near the county line of San Diego and Riverside, area of Carrancho rd. Large header, heavy brush, slow ROSUpdate: 1333 - Vegetation fire in the 44800 block of Vuelta Grande RoadArriving crews reported smoke and flames burning between five and 10 acres of the orange grove, Hagemann said.

View Larger MapIncident Name: Grande Incident Number: CARRU-18891Date Reported: 03/02/2009 Time Reported: 1:33 PMIncident Type: Vegetation FireIncident Location: Vuelte Grande Road X Vuelte Chica Road (TB 976-G3) City: De Luz area of TemeculaSize/Type of Fuel/etc.: Avocado Grove and VegetationCause: Escaped Permitted Agricultural BurnResources AssignedEngines: 13 Breathing Supp.: 0 Helicopters: 2Truck Co: 0 Squad: 0 Air Attack: 0Firefighters: 280 RVC Medics: 0 Air Tankers: 0Overhead Personnel: 7 AMB's: 0 Fire Crews: 13Haz. Mat: No Co. Health: No County OES: No Fire Prev.: Yes Water Tenders: 2Electrical Co: No Gas Co: No Water Co: No Bulldozers: 1Misc. Equip: San Diego County Fire Department Sheriff's Office: No CHP: Yes Office: San DiegoCooperating Agencies: CAL FIRE/Riverside, CAL FIRE/San Diego, California Highway Patrol – San Diego, Orange County Fire Authority, Pechanga FD, Riverside County Fire DeptSupplementalComments: CAL FIRE and Riverside County Firefighters are on scene of a vegetation fire in the De Luz area of Temecula. First arriving units reported smoke and flames visible from an orange grove, 5-10 acres burning in heavy fuels at a medium rate of spread. 2:09 p.m.: fire is now 20 acres burning in heavy fuels at a slow rate of spread. No structures threatened, no injuries reported. Potential for 500 acres. Updates will be posted as information becomes available or significant events occur. UPDATE 03/02/2009 3:30 PM: Fire is now approximately 50 acres with 0% containment. No evacuations, no immediate structure threat and no injuries reported. UPDATE 03/02/2009 4:30 PM: Fire is now approximately 70 acres with 0% containment. Updates will be posted as information becomes available. Update 03/02/2009 6:00 PM: Fire is approximately 100 acres and is being mapped for more accurate acreage. Fire personnel will remain on scene throughout the night and tomorrow to contain and control the fire. No evacuations, no structure threats and no injuries reported. Updates will be posted throughout the evening as significant events occur.Problems: Road closures at Carrancho Road and Vuelte Grande until further notice.Evacuations: No Evacuation Comments:Information Center: 951-940-6985 OR:Prepared By: Jody Hagemann Prepared Date/Time: 03/02/2009 1757

Update: 3-3-09 AM - Reports of some clothing found floating this morning in search area.

The Coast Guard has secured former University of South Florida football player Nick Schuyler, who was clinging to the boat and the search continues for the others.

Corey Smith, a free-agent defensive end who played for the Detroit Lions last season, and Marquis Cooper, an Oakland Raiders linebacker, are two of the four people aboard the boat that didn't return from a fishing trip Saturday.

Petty Officer Sondra-Kay Kneen says searchers located an overturned boat Monday but provided no further details.

The Coast Guard said Cooper, Detroit Lions free agent Corey Smith and another former USF player, William Bleakley, remained missing. TV footage showed Schuyler being helped from a Coast Guard helicopter at Tampa General Hospital. He appeared conscious and talking.

The men were reported missing Sunday. The Coast Guard has searched about 16,000 square miles of ocean for the 21-foot boat.

The reports, citing Coast Guard officials, say that the four people left the Clearwater, Fla., area on a 21-foot fishing boat around 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

"Two months earlier, UCLA safety inspectors found more than a dozen safety deficiencies in the same lab"

Deadly UCLA lab fire leaves haunting questions

Federal and state safety agencies investigate after university officials failed to address lapses before a Dec. 29 chemical accident left a research assistant with fatal burns.

By Kim Christensen March 1, 2009

UCLA's Molecular Sciences Building was mostly closed for the holidays on Dec. 29 as research assistant Sheri Sangji worked on an organic chemistry experiment.

Only three months into her job in the lab, the 23-year-old Pomona College graduate was using a plastic syringe to extract from a sealed container a small quantity of t-butyl lithium -- a chemical compound that ignites instantly when exposed to air.

Sheri Sangji -"She was brilliant, just so impressive,"

As she withdrew the liquid, the syringe came apart in her hands, spewing flaming chemicals, according to a UCLA accident report. A flash fire set her clothing ablaze and spread second- and third-degree burns over 43% of her body.

Eighteen excruciating days later, Sangji died in a hospital burn unit.

"It is horrifying," said her sister Naveen, 26, a Harvard medical student. "Sheri wasn't out doing something stupid. She was working in a lab at one of the largest universities in the world. She gets these horrific injuries and loses her life to these injuries and we still don't know how it happened or why it wasn't prevented."

Sangji's death was more than a tragic workplace accident. It also raised serious questions about the university's attention to laboratory safety.

"It was totally preventable," said Neal Langerman, a San Diego consultant and former head of the American Chemical Society's Division of Chemical Health and Safety, whose members were given a detailed account of the incident by a University of California safety official.

"Poor training, poor technique, lack of supervision and improper method. This was just not the right way to transfer these things," Langerman said. "She died, didn't she? It speaks for itself."

Two months earlier, UCLA safety inspectors found more than a dozen deficiencies in the same lab, Molecular Sciences Room 4221, according to internal investigative and inspection reports reviewed by The Times. Among the findings: Employees were not wearing requisite protective lab coats, and flammable liquids and volatile chemicals were stored improperly.

Chemical Safety Officer Michael Wheatley sent the inspection report to the researcher who oversees the lab, professor Patrick Harran, as well as to the head of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department and a top UCLA safety official. The report directed that problems be fixed by Dec. 5.

But the required corrective action was not taken, records show, and on Dec. 29 all that stood between Sangji's torso and the fire that engulfed her was a highly flammable, synthetic sweater that fueled the flames.

Under scrutiny

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health is investigating, as are the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. A spokeswoman for Cal/OSHA, the lead agency, said she could not comment on the investigation.

UCLA officials say they are cooperating with all of the agencies.

"We consider this a profoundly tragic accident, and the campus community is still reeling from the loss of Sheri as a member of the Bruin family," said Kevin Reed, vice chancellor for legal affairs.

Harran, the organic chemistry professor for whom Sangji worked, said he could not comment on the accident because of the pending investigations. But he said he's heartbroken.

"Words cannot convey my grief or that of those who work in my lab, and our pain cannot possibly compare with the immeasurable anguish felt by Sheri's family," he wrote in an e-mail. "Sheri's death is a tragedy that has left her friends, colleagues and co-workers here in our department devastated."

UCLA has launched a comprehensive review of lab safety protocols and has stepped up inspections and shortened the time allowed to correct serious violations. Chancellor Gene Block also established a campuswide lab safety committee and ordered enhanced accountability measures.

Such efforts are of little comfort to Sangji's family. Her parents, Shaukat Sangji, a small-business owner who lives in Toronto, Canada, with his wife, Maimoona, a Montessori schoolteacher, were too distraught to be interviewed, said Naveen, who relayed an e-mail message to The Times from her father.

"They say time will heal, but I know for sure nothing can heal this," he said. "This has completely destroyed our lives forever."

The experiment: She was trying to transfer up to 2 ounces of t-butyl lithium, which was dissolved in pentane, another highly flammable chemical, from one sealed container to another. It was the second time she had performed that procedure in Harran's lab, UCLA officials said.

"The barrel of the syringe was either ejected or pulled out of the syringe, causing liquid to be released," the UCLA accident report stated.

Sangji's rubber gloves caught fire, searing her hands. Her sweater, made of a synthetic material, was so flammable that Langerman, the chemical safety expert, compared it to "solid gasoline." It, too, was quickly engulfed.

"She might have been fine" had she quickly made it to the shower, said Russ Phifer, head of the American Chemical Society's safety division, who also reviewed the UC official's account of the accident.

A postdoctoral researcher, who UCLA officials say was just a few feet away, rushed to Sangji's aid and tried to smother the flames with a lab coat. Another ran in from an adjoining room, helped douse the fire, then called 911 and summoned Harran, Reed said.

"He said when he got there Sheri was sitting with her arms outstretched in front of her and someone was throwing water at her from a sink," said Naveen, who spoke with Harran later at the hospital. That account squares with the UCLA accident report.

From the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, Sangji was transferred to the Grossman Burn Center in Sherman Oaks.

It is unknown whether a typical cotton lab coat would have saved her. But even if it caught fire, it could have been removed much more easily than a burning synthetic sweater, safety expert Phifer said.

"I can't imagine why she didn't have protective clothing if she knew she was working with chemicals that dangerous," Sheri's friend Bruce said.

- On Jan. 16, she succumbed to respiratory failure, infection and other complications, according to a coroner's report.

Significant National Weather

Winter storm warnings, watches, and advisories are in effect from South Carolina northeastward through the mid Atlantic and New England. See www.nws.noaa.gov for the latest information.

Northeast:The storm low is tracking rapidly up the East Coast toward the Canadian Maritimes. The snow will end in Virginia, the eastern half of Maryland, Delaware and eastern Pennsylvania with accumulations of two to 10 inches. Southeast New York including New York City and western Long Island will receive six inches to a foot of snow. Southern New England, southeast Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine will have snow through tonight and Boston could get as much as 15 inches. A wintry mix of sleet and rain will depress snowfall amounts on Cape Cod, Nantucket and the eastern tip of Maine. The storm will produce gusty north to northeast winds up to 40 mph as it tracks along the coast.

South:As the storm moves rapidly northeast, the last of the snow will end over North Carolina this morning. Some areas could end up with six inches of snow. Gusty winds across the Southeast will gradually subside through the day. Under a ridge of high pressure, the Southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley will be dry. From the Mississippi Valley eastward, temperatures will be a chilly 10 to 25 degrees below average. Across the Southern Plains, temperatures will be a very warm 10 to 20 degrees above average.

Midwest:Under high pressure, the region will be mostly dry. However, several weak disturbances over the north-central states will produce some minor snowfall. High temperatures will be 5 to 20 degrees below average from the Missouri Valley eastward, but 10 to 20 degrees above average in the central High Plains.

West:With a large low pressure area off the Pacific Northwest, precipitation will continue for the coast north of Los Angles and the intermountain west. Snow levels will range from 3,500 feet in the Washington Cascades, 5,000 feet in the Siskiyou and Mount Shasta to 7,500 feet and lowering in the Sierra. Northern California will still see the heaviest rain. An additional foot or more of snow will fall in the highest elevations of the Sierra and gusty winds will continue to the lee of the Cascades and Sierra and across the Great Basin. Low pressure is forecast to remain off the Pacific Northwest Coast through mid-week with additional precipitation expected across the northern two-thirds of California, Oregon and Washington and eastward into the northern and central Rockies. (NOAA, National Weather Service, Various Media Sources)

Winter Storm Response

FEMA NRCC is at Watch/Steady State - 24/7: The NRCC has contacted FEMA Regions I, II, III, and IV to determine their respective state's level of activation/readiness, any anticipated actions, and any existing problems associated with the storm.

UPDATED: *** CANCEL AMBER ALERT - CHILD SAFELY LOCATED *** *** CANCEL AMBER ALERT - CHILD SAFELY LOCATED ***Update: 1200 03/03/09-Police say Yreka kidnap suspect sexually assaulted 3-year-old girl.The Hornbrook man accused of abducting a three-year-old Yreka girl from her home early Monday is being held on suspicion of attempted murder and sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10.Police said today Kody Lee Kaplon, 22, faces charges including felony false imprisonment, child stealing, burglary, kidnapping, felony willful cruelty to a child, attempted murder and sexual intercourse with a child under 10.Update: 0900 03/03/09 - Father claims he is being treated as a criminal, Child is with a undisclosed secret rape crisis center....?YREKA, Ca. -- The father of a kidnapped toddler who was found Monday afternoon says police won't let him see his daughter.

Three-year-old Francis Ann Collins was taken from her home around 4:30 a.m. Monday morning. After a multi-state Ambert Alert was issued, the California Highway Patrol(?) found her at 3:15 p.m., unclothed, walking on a road northwest of Yreka. She was immediately taken to the hospital to be examined.Ryan Collins, Francis' father, says police are not letting him or his wife see Francis. They also say she is no longer in the hospital, but getting treatment for sexual assault. Police have not verified or denied these claims.Meanwhile, police have 22- year-old Kody Lee Kaplon in custody as a suspect in the abduction. Police located his car and arrested him without the girl around 2 p.m. Monday afternoon.Kaplon is believed to have been drinking before the abduction. The girl's parents say they knew Kaplon through a roomate living in their house. Kaplon is also a father himself.Police are not saying exactly where they located Kaplon or Francis.Ryan Collins says Monday morning, he awoke to the sound of Francis screaming. He thought she was having a bad dream, but when he went to her bed, she was gone. When he heard a car start up, he ran outside and says he saw Kaplon driving away with his daughter in the back seat.CHP, the Siskiyou County Sheriffs Office, and the FBI all assisted Yreka Police in the search.More at Source: kdrv.com - Link

It began around 4:30 a.m. Monday when Kaplon allegedly broke into the Collins' apartment, where he attended a social gathering the night before, and made off with the 30-pound girl dressed in a tie-dye shirt, police said.

It ended when Kaplon made the Amber Alert call that led to his capture, Yreka police Lt. Dave Gamache said.

Kaplon, 22, of Hornbrook, noticed around 2 p.m. that police had issued an Amber Alert for the girl and listed him as a suspect, Gamache said.

Kaplon then telephoned the alert hotline, eventually speaking with police, Gamache said.

He was still on the telephone with authorities when police surrounded the Hornbrook house with Kaplon inside. Kaplon stepped outside and was taken into custody, Gamache said.

Investigators then learned that Kaplon may have been in the Hawkinsville area, a remote area 15 miles northwest of Yreka, police said.

Local citizens in the area discovered a nude and dirty Collins about 3 p.m. walking down a dirt roadway, Gamache said. They began driving her down from the forest, crossing paths with a California Highway Patrol officer who then took Collins to Yreka, police said.

Collins was taken to the Fairchild Medical Center in Yreka, where she was treated for what police late Monday called minor injuries.

In the same forest area where Collins was found, investigators later discovered the green 1992 Pontiac Grand Am listed in the Amber Alert as the possible getaway car, police said. The car was being processed Monday night as a crime scene, police said.

Gamache declined to say whether Kaplon cooperated with authorities before the girl's discovery.

No further details were available Monday night.More at Source:---------------------Note: Yreka Police Department was made aware of the following::

UPDATED: A girl wanted in a statewide Amber Alert was found walking along a service road without clothes, Yreka police said Monday.UPDATED: Apparently suspect attended a party at the victims home(Apt.) the night before. Suspect was previously unknown to parents.Yreka Police Lt. Dave Gamache said Frances Ann Collins' parents met 22-year-old Kody Lee Kaplon during a party at their house Sunday night. The girl's father, Ryan Collins, was awakened around 4:30 a.m. by her screams and apparently saw Kaplon drive off with her.

The man accused of abducting a 3-year-old Yreka girl has been taken into custody, but the whereabouts of the girl are unclear.

Kody Lee Kaplon has been previously charged in Siskiyou County for petty theft, driving without a valid license, drunken driving and driving on a suspended license, electronic superior court records show.

ON MARCH 2, 2009, AT 04:37 AM, FRANCIS ANN COLLINS WAS ABDUCTED FROM YREKA, CALIFORNIA. THIS

Description:

ON MARCH 2, 2009, AT 04:37 AM, FRANCIS ANN COLLINS WAS ABDUCTED FROM YREKA, CALIFORNIA. THIS AMBER ALERT IS DIRECTED TO NORTHERN CALIFORNIA FRANCIS ANN COLLINS IS A 3 YEAR OLD, WHITE, FEMALE, 3 FEET TALL, 30 POUND, JUVENILE WITH BROWN HAIR, AND BROWN EYES, LAST SEEN WEARING TIE DYED T-SHIRT. SUSPECT IS CODY KAPLIN, A 22 YEAR OLD, WHITE, MALE, 5 FEET 7 INCHES TALL, WEIGHING 140 POUNDS, WITH BROWN HAIR, HAZEL EYES, LAST SEEN WEARING A BLACK AND WHITE FLANNEL SHIRT AND BLUE JEANS. OTHER SUSPECT INFORMATION INCLUDES: TATTOOS: AN IRON CROSS ON LEFT HAND, YOUNG SON ON LEFT ARM AND A MUD FLAP GIRL ON RIGHT ARM. THE SUSPECT WAS LAST SEEN DRIVING A GREEN PONTIAC GRAND AM, WITH A CA LICENSE PLATE OF 3WKA651. OTHER VEHICLE INFORMATION INCLUDES: DRIVER'S SIDE DAMAGE. IF SEEN CONTACT YREKA POLICE DEPARTMENT AT (530) 841-2623. CHP ENTAC/JEL

Firefighters are at the scene of an injured hiker on the Sawmill Trail in the Pinyon area. The patient is in the process of being hiked out by firefighters and will then be airlifted via helicopter and transported to a local hospital for treatment of injuries. Updates will be posted as information becomes available.

Pinyon Pines — A hiker who got hurt today near the Sawmill Trail in the rugged northeast Santa Rosa Mountains was carried by firefighters for about 2 miles to safety, a Cal Fire spokeswoman said.

The hiker, whose gender was not provided, was reported injured shortly before 1 p.m., said Cal Fire-Riverside County spokeswoman Jody Hagemann.

Firefighters from the Pinyon Station on state Route 74 walked in more than 2 miles to reach the injured hiker, Hagemann said. They used a rigid litter basket or backboard to carry the hiker out, Hagemann said.

A rescue helicopter was canceled and the hiker was taken to a hospital by an ambulance shortly before 4 p.m., Hagemann said.

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****REMINDER**** Every fire has the ability to be catastrophic. The wildland fire management environment has profoundly changed. Growing numbers of communities, across the nation, are experiencing longer fire seasons; more frequent, bigger, and more severe, fires are a real threat. Be careful with all campfires and equipment.View blog top tags---------------------

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How fires get their names

Every year in California thousands of wildfires start throughout the state.
In most cases, the dispatch center sending the initial resources to a wildland fire
will designate a name for the fire, but the first on scene engine or fire official can
also name the incident. Fires are usually named for the area in which they start –
a geographical location, local landmark, street, lake, mountain, peak, etc. Quickly
naming the fire provides responding fire resources with an additional locater, and
allows fire officials to track and prioritize incidents by name.
For example during the Southern California Fire Siege of 2003, the largest
wildland fire in California history, the Cedar Fire in San Diego County, was
named after the Cedar Creek Falls area where it started. The destructive Old
Fire, which burned during the same time period in San Bernardino County, was
named after the road along which it started - Old Waterman Canyon Road.
CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States.
CDF - CAL FIRE Firefighters answer the call more than 300,000 times a year. CAL FIRE Firefighters make up the fire department for 30 of our 58 counties in California and more than 100 local communities. We serve as the incident command during many of California’s most serious disasters. CAL FIRE Firefighters respond to many various types and forms of calls ranging from structural fires, to auto accidents, to earthquakes, to floods, to the spilling of hazardous materials, to every conceivable disaster; CAL FIRE answer's the calls.
CAL FIRE is the largest fire department in California and the second largest fire department in the United States .CAL FIRE firefighters protect 33 million acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA). We have over 4,000 members within CAL FIRE and CAL FIRE is associated with the California Professional Firefighters (CPF) and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF).

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Cal Fire News is for casual public interest, and does *not*constitute an official warning system. Those who choose to read or receive Cal Fire News messages do so with the understanding they are *not* an official instruction, suggestion or permission to take action.